AbdelKarim AlBataineh | Behavioral Economics Research | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. AbdelKarim AlBataineh | Behavioral Economics Research | Best Researcher Award

University of Petra | Jordan

Assist. Prof. Dr. AbdelKarim Fawwaz AlBataineh is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of economics, with a strong focus on financial and banking sciences. He has built a career that blends teaching, research, academic leadership, and professional service. Over the years, he has contributed to advancing knowledge in areas such as financial inclusion, governance, remittances, sustainable development, and economic growth. His career is marked by scholarly publications, participation in academic committees, and recognition through prestigious awards.

Professional Profiles

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Education

Dr. AlBataineh pursued his higher education in the Russian Federation, where he developed expertise in economics and management of national economies. He completed a Master of Science in Engineering of the Economies of Radio and Television Production and later earned his Doctorate in Economics. His doctoral research explored organizational and economic factors shaping the development and efficiency of media industries, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach that connects economic theories with practical applications in technology and communication.

Experience

His academic career began with teaching roles at Al-Zaytoonah Private University before joining the University of Petra, where he has served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Financial and Banking Sciences. Beyond teaching, he has taken on leadership and service roles, including Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and membership in key university and faculty-level committees related to accreditation, academic program management, and quality assurance. He has also contributed to guiding students through academic counseling, examination oversight, and research mentorship. In addition to his academic experience, Dr. AlBataineh gained valuable early professional exposure in media and consulting roles, bridging the gap between economics and applied industries.

Research Interests

Dr. AlBataineh’s research interests lie at the intersection of financial sciences, economic development, and technological innovation. His studies address critical issues such as the role of financial inclusion in promoting investment, the effects of remittances on poverty alleviation, corporate governance under crisis conditions, the impact of smart contracts on land registry systems, and the role of business incubators in fostering women’s entrepreneurship. He has also investigated the dynamics of price policies, financial ratios, and inventory management, offering insights into the functioning of markets and organizations in Jordan and beyond. His commitment to exploring diverse topics highlights his adaptability and dedication to contributing to sustainable economic growth.

Award

Dr. AlBataineh’s scholarly achievements have been recognized through the Al Hussein Fund for Excellence Economic Research Award, honoring his contributions to labor economics and applied financial studies. This recognition underscores his ability to generate impactful research with relevance to policy, practice, and sustainable development in the region.

Publications

AlBataineh, A.F. (2025). The effect of smart contracts (blockchain technology) on Jordan’s land registry and survey department for sustainable development. Discover Sustainability.

Yousef Ali, H.Y.A., Hamshari, Y.M., Alqam, M.A., & AlBataineh, A.F. (2025). Effects of corporate governance at information asymmetry on the presence of COVID-19 pandemic. Data and Metadata, 2(2), Article 672.

AlBataineh, A.K.F., Harb, A.S.M., Alnajjar, A.H., & Alhaj, R.S. (2024). Evaluating the impact of business incubators on promoting growth and creativity in women’s projects in Jordan. International Journal of Management and Sustainability, 13(4), 158–170.

AlBataineh, A. (2024). The effect of remittances on poverty and economic growth in Jordan: Evidence from augmented autoregressive distributed lag model. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 30(4), 915–933.

AlBataineh, A. (2024). The effect of price policy on market share for retail stores in Jordan. Kurdish Studies, 12(1), 45–57.

AlBataineh, A. (2023). Role of financial stability in strengthening the relationship between financial inclusion and investments in the Jordanian financial sector. Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences, 50(4), 25–34.

Conclusion

Assist. Prof. Dr. AbdelKarim AlBataineh is an accomplished academic whose career reflects a balance of teaching excellence, research innovation, and community engagement. Through his contributions to higher education, scholarly publications, and professional service, he continues to influence the field of economics and financial sciences. His dedication to advancing knowledge and addressing real-world challenges positions him as a respected scholar and mentor within the academic and professional community.

Weliswa Matekenya | Quantitative Social Science Research | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Weliswa Matekenya | Quantitative Social Science Research | Best Researcher Award

Nelson Mandela University | South Africa

Dr. Weliswa Matekenya is a seasoned Senior Lecturer in Economics at Nelson Mandela University (NMU), South Africa. With a profound dedication to research and academic excellence, she has established herself as a specialist in Maritime, Development, and Environmental Economics. Her scholarly contributions are evident in her extensive publication record, research consultancy experience, and active participation in national and international academic forums. Recognized as an emerging leader in economic research, Dr. Matekenya has garnered prestigious awards and research grants, reflecting her impact in shaping economic discourse in South Africa and beyond.

Professional Profile

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Education

Dr. Matekenya earned her PhD in Economics from Nelson Mandela University, where her doctoral thesis explored the macroeconomic impact of ocean economy financing in South Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Fort Hare, where she researched the effect of oil price volatility on South Africa’s economic growth. Her academic journey also includes a Bachelor of Honours in Economics and a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management and Economics, both from the University of Fort Hare. Her educational background has laid a strong foundation for her multifaceted research and teaching interests in economics.

Professional Experience

Dr. Matekenya currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at NMU’s Department of Economics, a position she has held since 2018. In this role, she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules including Environmental Economics, Development Economics, Econometrics, Public Economics, and Microeconomics. She has also served in several leadership capacities, such as Acting Head of Department and Chairperson of the Departmental Research Management Committee. She coordinates PhD and Master’s programs and actively contributes to curriculum development and ethics review panels.

Before joining NMU, she worked as a Research Consultant at Masutane Research Company, where she led data-driven projects, designed research methodologies, and conducted field studies. Her previous roles include lecturing positions at Educor and the University of Fort Hare, as well as serving as a Research Assistant in the Presidency of South Africa. Across these roles, she has gained valuable expertise in academic program coordination, research supervision, and policy analysis.

Research Interests

Dr. Matekenya’s research interests lie primarily in Maritime Economics, Development Economics, and Environmental Economics. She is particularly engaged in exploring the socio-economic dimensions of port infrastructure, ocean economy financing, and sustainable development strategies in coastal regions. Her recent projects include assessing the economic impact of seaports in South African regional economies and investigating the technical efficiency of ports in the SACU region using data envelopment analysis. She also focuses on topics such as climate change, foreign direct investment, financial inclusion, and SMME innovation.

Her involvement in international collaborative projects, such as those with UNU-WIDER under the SA-TIED initiative, has allowed her to explore transnational economic themes, including the role of Special Economic Zones in regional development. Her research integrates quantitative methodologies, including cointegration analysis and regression modeling, with policy-oriented perspectives, making her work both academically rigorous and practically relevant.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Matekenya has received several accolades that recognize her contributions to economic research and academic development. She was awarded the Emerging Researcher of the Year in 2022, affirming her position as a leading early-career researcher. She has also been a recipient of the Thuthuka Grant (2024–2026) for her project on the socio-economic impact of South African seaports. Additionally, she participated in the Black Academic Advancement Programme (BAAP) from 2020 to 2021, supporting the development of underrepresented scholars in academia.

Her active engagement in the academic community extends to international speaking engagements, such as the World Conference on Climate Change in Prague and panel discussions at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in India. Dr. Matekenya also serves as a peer reviewer for several journals, including the Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies and the Journal of Shipping and Trade, and she holds an editorial position with the latter.

In sum, Dr. Weliswa Matekenya exemplifies scholarly leadership through her teaching, research, and engagement with economic development at local, national, and global levels. Her academic journey, underpinned by a solid educational foundation and a commitment to impactful research, positions her as an influential voice in shaping Africa’s sustainable economic future.

Publications

Impact of financing aquaculture on selected economic indicators in South Africa: cointegration approach

Authors: Weliswa Matekenya; Ronney Ncwadi
Journal: Journal of Applied Aquaculture
Year: 2024

The impact of maritime transport financing on total trade in South Africa

Authors: W. Matekenya; R. Ncwadi
Journal: Journal of Shipping and Trade
Year: 2022

Innovation as a driver of SMME performance in South Africa: a quantile regression approach

Authors: Weliswa Matekenya; Clement Moyo
Journal: African Journal of Economic and Management Studies
Year: 2022

Financial inclusion and human development: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors: Weliswa Matekenya; Clement Moyo; Leward Jeke
Journal: Development Southern Africa
Year: 2021

Firm and product survival analysis: Evidence from South African tax administrative and products data

Authors: Syden Mishi; Weliswa Matekenya; Leward Jeke; Ronney Ncwadi; Roseline Karambakuwa
Journal: WIDER Working Paper
Year: 2021

Meghdad Mirabi – Blockchain – Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Meghdad Mirabi - Blockchain - Best Researcher Award 

Technical University of Darmstadt  -  Germany

Author Profile

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Meghdad Mirabi embarked on his academic journey with a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran, where he laid the foundation for his future in computer science. He then pursued his Master's in Computer Science with a focus on Distributed Computing at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Selangor, Malaysia. This laid the groundwork for his later specialization in distributed systems and database technologies. His academic pursuits culminated in a Ph.D. in Computer Science, specifically focusing on Database Systems, from UPM.

Professional Endeavors

Mirabi's professional career showcases a trajectory of increasing responsibility and expertise in academia and research. Starting as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, he transitioned into various research roles, including Senior Researcher positions at renowned institutions such as the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), Technical University of Darmstadt, and Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. His diverse experience provided him with a holistic understanding of computer science research, spanning from academia to industrial collaborations.

Contributions and Research Focus On Blockchain

Throughout his career, Mirabi has made significant contributions to the fields of distributed systems, database management, and blockchain technology. His research interests encompass a wide array of topics, including Security for Distributed Systems, Data Management, and Blockchain Technology. He has delved into subfields such as Secure and Verifiable Computing, Privacy-Enhanced Technologies, and Access Control for Blockchain Systems. His work reflects a deep commitment to addressing real-world challenges in data security, privacy, and trustworthiness, essential for the advancement of modern computing systems.

Accolades and Recognition

Mirabi's contributions have been recognized through numerous honors and awards, including Best Teaching Awards and research grants. His achievements have been acknowledged internationally, as evidenced by medals and scholarships received during his academic pursuits. Moreover, he has been involved in prestigious projects funded by organizations such as the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and has secured grants for his research initiatives, highlighting the impact and relevance of his work.

Impact and Influence

Mirabi's influence extends beyond his research contributions. He has actively participated in professional activities such as serving on editorial boards, organizing conferences, and contributing as a reviewer for reputable journals. Additionally, his mentorship of Ph.D. and Master's students underscores his commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers. His workshops and curriculum design efforts have played a vital role in disseminating knowledge and fostering innovation in areas such as blockchain technology and distributed systems.

Legacy and Future Contributions

As Meghdad Mirabi continues to advance in his career, his legacy lies in his multidisciplinary approach to tackling complex challenges in computer science. His research has the potential to shape the future of distributed systems, data management, and cybersecurity. Through his mentorship and collaborative endeavors, he is not only leaving a mark on academia but also contributing to the broader technological landscape. Looking ahead, his focus on emerging technologies like blockchain and IoT networks promises to drive innovation and create lasting impacts in the field.

Citations

  • Citations   183
  • h-index       7
  • i10-index    5

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